Bhartiya Janata Party leaders had to face workers wrath on Wednesday, as hundreds of them lay seige to the party headquarters in lucknow protesting weightage being given to turncoats while distribution of tickets for Assembly polls.
Though no senior leader was present in the protest, irked workers raised slogans against those who were given tickets. They raised slogans like: “Karyakarta ka samaan vaapis karo” and “Karyakarta ka aapmaan nahi sahenge, nahi sahenge”.
The slogans became vociferous when the angry workers learnt state unit chief Keshav Prasad Maurya was holding a meeting with party leaders.
“We will talk to the leaders and their supporters and pacify them. We are not annoyed with them and their outburst is natural,” Maurya said in an attempt to pacify the workers.
Party workers were angry over outsiders being given prominence in the selection of candidates from lucknow. Party-hoppers like Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Neeraj Bora, RK Chaudhary and Brijesh Pathak have been fielded from different segments of lucknow district.
Former MlA from lucknow Cantonment Suresh Tiwari, who lost to Rita Bahuguna Joshi by 2000 votes, was a serious contender for the ticket. He was assured of being accommodated from some other seat if Joshi was allowed to contest from lucknow Cant.
“The BJP leadership has not honoured its promise. What will happen if senior party leaders contest as rebel candidates,” shouted a piqued party worker.
There are reports that Suresh Tiwari has taken nomination paper but he denied asking for papers.
“Workers are our real strength. The party has given tickets to those who can win elections for us. Some leaders might have come from other parties but once they have joined the BJP, they are part of us,” state BJP chief Maurya said. “We respect the workers’ anger and am sure that we will be able to pacify them,” he said.
Maurya, however, could not say why the party had fielded Rajesh Tripathi , who was also charged by lokayukta of corruption. “I am not aware of it. But if he has done anything wrong, he whould not be spared,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maurya reiterated his demand for the removal of DGP Javeed Ahmed and said that the EC should remove the top cop and several state officials who are working as Samajwadi Party ‘agents’.
Talking to media persons, Maurya said that the BJP will win over 300 seats. “There is positive atmosphere in favour of the party. People are craving for development. They want the end of ‘goonda raj’ and will vote against the Samajwadi Party and BSP,” he said.
Hitting out at Akhilesh Yadav, Maurya without naming Gayatrio Prajapati said that the CM during his rally at Sultanpur on Tuesday, advocated for a man who was thrown out of the cabinet for corruption charges. .